Taking Flight
Beginning my adventures as a student pilot.
Preflight
I started my path to obtaining my private pilot license almost a year ago. After years, decades counting childhood dreams, of wanting, saving, scheming, and gently dropping hints to my wife, I finally researched and found a CFI near me that would work with my schedule and budget. I scheduled the discovery flight.
Takeoff
The day of my discovery flight, I was excited and a little nervous. My excitement was because I got to fly in a small plane for the first time in several years. Most of my flying in recent times, like most people, had been in large commercial planes. Flying in a small plane is fun, but completely different. You really FEEL the flying.
I was also nervous because I had been told that I would be allowed to take control of the plane once we were airborne. This seemed like a sales pitch to me. Why in the world would they let someone with exactly zero training, flight or ground school, take the controls of a plane? This sounded to me like a ploy just to get me to buy the discovery flight.
When I showed up, I was introduced to the process of preflight, what the coursework would look like, and the overall process of successfully obtaining my PPL. But mostly, we talked about flying and my comfort level with small planes. I assured my CFI, I was good to go, and I was. He told me to sit left seat, which I was shocked. He said, “well, that’s where the PIC (pilot in command) sits and if you choose to obtain your license, this is where you will be learning from.” We climbed in, went through the startup, and off we went!
Downwind
Once we were in the air, my CFI demonstrated a few basic maneuvers; turns around a point, s-turns, and straight and level flying. He was educating me on things I’d learn, but at the same time he was also gauging my comfort level. I’m pretty sure it was to make sure I wouldn’t get sick and ruin the interior. I had no problems of such and was enjoying my time immensely! Then, he asked if I was ready to try it. I took the controls, and he walked me through how to maintain straight and level flight. Next, he had me do some basic turns. I was hooked. I knew right then that my wallet was about to be a lot lighter, and my smile would probably never fade.
Final
Once we began our landing, my CFI took controls back and demonstrated the process. At the time, it seemed like an impossible amount of coordination between feet, hands, and mouth. The radio calls, the control surfaces control, the flaps; it all seemed like an impossibly complex ballet of movements I would never be able to duplicate. But he made it look easy while talking to me the entire time, explaining what each move and radio call was. I just sat there, wide-eyed and grinning like an idiot, but loving life.
Debriefing
After we landed and secured the plane, we discussed costs and time commitments some more. I already knew in my heart that it was “a go” for me, but said I’d have to call him the next day, after discussing more with my wife. I needed to run through everything with her that I had learned that day, the cost estimated, the time commitment for both flying and also studying, as well as my end goals (more on that in a future post). After she again gave me her blessing, I called my CFI immediately.
I’m now about halfway through the process, I estimate. I have about 30 flight hours, I have soloed, been building to longer cross-country flights, and am about to take my written exam (I should have knocked this out earlier…). I love the journey and look forward to sharing it as well as aviation news and thoughts in general. So, strap in, secure your door and window, and let’s go flying!
